Obituary of Marilyn Gail Cook

Marilyn Gail Cook, a woman who lived a life devoted to family, passed away after a short battle with lung cancer on Friday morning, December 30, 2016. She was 65 years old. Gail was born in Waltham, the daughter of Norman and Dorothy Young. She grew up in Waltham and was a graduate of Waltham High School. She settled in Burlington in 1975 to raise her three children and in recent years she had been living in Waltham to help care for her mother. She would always consider herself a resident of Burlington. Gail was a strong, independent, and self-motivated woman. She always had a primary job with a part time career on the side. She had worked for the Federal Government for decades. She started with the Department of Labor as an administrative assistant in the Investigations Department. She then went to the FAA where she worked for the last 15 years. Her position with the FAA was Realty Specialist, where she was responsible contracting land on behalf of the FAA so they could keep the Satellite monitoring and frequency control at optimal accuracy. She could manage all the complexities of government contracts with great meticulousness and professionalism. She really enjoyed the many challenges of her career, her upper management, and the many coworkers whom she considered friends. Prior to her Federal Government career, Gail had worked as the Administrative Assistant to the President of the Woburn Trade Center for many years. She had a number of side careers which included; jewelry sales, hairdressing, and owning a consignment shop called “Necessities.” She was a keen shopper and loved visiting consignment shops, yard sales, retail stores looking for hidden gems or simply just a unique or whimsical piece of furniture or accessory for her home, which she always had decorated as if it had been done by a designer. She was also loved getting great deals on clothing and shoes! Gail was a woman of unwavering devotion to family. She was strong role model to her children. She wanted her children to be independent, hardworking, and dedicated to family. She unselfishly gave of herself to all she loved. When her mother had a fall 15 years ago, Gail sold her home in Burlington and bought the home across from her mother so that she could care for her mother, but still let her Mom feel independent. She made sure her mother was happy and safe. That was how her mother raised her and she did it without any misgivings. In the end, she only outlived her mother by 2 weeks and once again they will reunited together in Heaven. During Gail’s illness, her children were at her side making sure she was well cared for and surrounded by those she loved in her final days. Her children had learned well from her and that strong devotion to family which will be Gail’s legacy has been passed to the next generation to carry on. Gail was the beloved wife of the late Rodney Cook. She was the loving mother of Jason Young of Hudson, NH, Jennifer Andrade & her husband James of Hampstead, NH and Tiffany Freeman & her husband Scott of Burlington. She was the devoted daughter of the late Dorothy & Norman Young. She was the proud grandmother of Kiana, Brook, Cai, Joshua & Jacob. She was the sister of Linda Matson & her husband Timothy of Fitchburg, John Young of FL, Nancy Gallant and the late Judith Chamberlain and Beverly Mason. Funeral Services will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Tuesday, Jan 3 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4-7 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery Burlington. Memorials in Gail’s name may be made to People Helping People, PO Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803.